Maple Heights: Teachers show their pride for graduating seniors

MAPLE HEIGHTS -- The Class of 2009 at Maple Heights High School is getting quite a send off.  The Maple Heights Teachers' Union bought about 300 yard signs congratulating the graduating seniors.

They split up into groups after school Monday and put the signs in the seniors' front yards.

"We are telling them how proud we are of them," says Teacher Diane Kallas.

"It shows our teachers care about us, " says Senior Kevin Thomas.

This district suffered from a teacher's strike six years ago, and has worked hard to repair its image. Test scores and graduation rates have improved but they're not satisfied.

"We hope the community notices this, and we will do it for every graduating class," says Teacher Toni Bednarik.

The seniors graduate Tuesday so the signs needed to go up Monday.

Teachers used union funds and a grant from the Northeast Ohio Education Association to pay $1,000 for the signs.